Aston Villa have disciplined three members of their first first-team squad for their part in a nightclub fracas during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Midfielders Fabien Delph and Chris Herd and central defender James Collins were
involved in the incident hours after the club had held their annual awards
ceremony at Villa Park.

The incident occurred at 02.45 BST - just five days before relegation-threatened
Villa's crucial home game against Tottenham.

All three players have apologised via a club statement received on Friday morning.
It is reported Delph has been dealt with more leniently by Villa as he was
acting as a peacemaker.

Villa, in a club statement, confirmed: "The club dealt with this matter
internally on Tuesday and the players in question have been disciplined.

"The fines are being split between two charities the club are promoting at the
game against Spurs on Sunday - Cure Leukaemia and Anthony Nolan.

"Our players attended the club's end-of-season dinner on Monday night and
training on Tuesday was limited to players who did not start in Saturday's
Barclays Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion and those not carrying
injuries.

"As a club, the players, management and fans are completely focused on
Sunday's game against Spurs at Villa Park.''

Villa manager Alex McLeish is certain to face questions on the matter when he
addresses the media on Friday lunchtime ahead of the Tottenham game.

Welsh international Collins said: "I'm sorry for what has happened and I take
responsibility for my actions. It does not show me in a very good light and does not put the club in a very
good light.

"I know I should not have been out in a club with my wife after the
end-of-season dinner at that time in the morning and I was wrong to be in that
position.

"It was a misunderstanding and was resolved quickly but I understand how it
looks and I apologise for that. As a senior, experienced player, I understand I
am in a position of responsibility.

"I let myself get into a position in which I didn't act responsibly and I
apologise for this. It was Monday night, it was early in the week and I didn't
have training the next day.

"But I know I've let myself down, I've let the club down, I've let the manager
down and most of all I've let down the fans of Aston Villa who have been great
to me.''

Herd, who has established himself as a first-team player this season, said: "I
would like to apologise for what happened on Monday night and I apologise for
being out at that time.

"My actions on the night were out of character. Even if I felt at the time
that the prior situation inside the nightclub had not been dealt with properly,
it was no one's intention to be involved in any trouble.

"In fact, we were accompanied by our girlfriends and wives. But I should not
have acted in the manner in which I did.

"I'll do everything I can to make it up to the club and the fans, as they have
both been fantastic since I've joined the team.

"My immediate aim is to help the team to finish the season strongly and to
secure our position in the Premier League.''

Delph, who has been dogged by injury problems in recent seasons, said: "I'm
sorry for being out on Monday night, the early hours of Tuesday morning and I
apologise to the club for this - the fans, the chairman, the manager and my
colleagues.

"I am injured, I won't be fit again until pre-season and I probably thought
that going out would not carry any consequences.

"I was sober, I was in control of my actions and I did try to calm down the
situation. I didn't hit out or strike anyone but I should not have been there
and I was wrong to be in this position.''